Process and apparatus for welding.



F. 0. PERKINS. moms AND APPARATUS FOR WELDING. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29, 1910. 1 37,979, Patented Sept. 10,1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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. F. G. PERKINS.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS ron WELDING. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29, 1910. 1,037,979 Patented Sept. 10, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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F. G. PERKINS.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR WELDING.

APPLICATION PILBDNOV. 29, 1910. 1 037 979 Patented Sept; 10, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

'IIIIIIIIII/"II 77 li raes S 65' J- FRANK 6. PERKINS, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR WELDING.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept 10 1912 Application filed November 29, 19-10. Serial No. 554,881.

T at? whom it may 625mm.- Be it known that I, FRANK C. PERKINS, a

' citizen of the United States, residing at gas or air with acetylene, hydrogen and oil or other gases in combination with oxygen or air and in connection with the electric arc blow pipe or torch.

In the accompanying drawings consisting of three sheets: Figure l is a longitudinal sec tion showing my invention embodied in. a torch having a single tubular electrode provided with means for supplying but one kind of gas thereto. F ig. 2 is a similar view showing a tubular electrode provided with means for supplying two kinds of gas thereto. Fig. 3 is a similar view of a torch com rising a single hollow electrode supplie with one kind of gas and tubular cutting tip. Fig. 4 is a torch similar to that shown in Fig. 3 excepting that the hollow electrode is supplied with two kinds of Fig. 5 is a similar view showing my invention embodied in a torch containing a. solid electrode and hollow cutting tip supplied with two kinds of gas one of which is adapt ed to pass through a safety screen. Fig. 6 is a similar view showing my invention embodied'in a torch having a tubular electrode supplied with one kind of H as and a 00- operating solid ele'ctrode. Fig. 7 is a similar view of a torch like that shown in Fig. 6 with the addition of a gas fed hollow cut-- ting tip. Fig. 8 is a similar view showing an adaptation of my invention in which two solid electrodes are employed in connection with a tubular tip which is supplied with two kinds of gas. Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 but showing the tip supplied with one kind of gas and two electrodes made gas.

hollow and each supplied with one kind of Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the construction shown in Fig. l, A represents the sheet of metal or other body which is to be cut, welded or similarly treated by the application of my invention, and B represents an electr1c source preferably a dynamo electric generator or transformer one side of which is connected with the article to be treated, so that the latter forms one electrode of an electric arc. The torch shown in Fig. 1 comprises a metal holder 0 connected with the other side of the electric generator and forming a terminal thereof, a handle C of insulating material connected with the holder, a hollow or tubular electrode D of carbon, aluminum, iron or the like, mounted on said holder so as to be in electrical connection with the generator, and a hose or tube E which is connected with the rear end of the electrode by means of 'a con ling e and whereby either oxygen or air un er low, high or moderate pressure may be supplied to the electrode.

In using this apparatus the frontend of the carbon or metal electrode is first en gaged with the article to be treated while the generator is in operation and then the electrode is withdrawn from the article suilicient to form an electric.arc between the same. Into this are is delivered the oxy en or air escaping from the front end of tie hollow carbon electrode, thereby producing a flame by the combination of the electric arc and the combustion of the oxygen 01' air the heating effect of which is greater than eitherthe heat of the electric are or the heat of the burning gas considered by themselves.

In cutting a sheet of nietal or a metal casting the electric source is preferably connected with the article, so that the latter forms the posit-ire terminal and the carbon electrode is connected with the other s de of the generator so as to form the negative terminal. By this means the ob ect under treatment forming the positive terminal be- :comes hottest and melts most rapidly when using a direct current while the electrode formin the negative terminal becomes-less hot an wears away at a lower rate.

In the construction shown in Fig. 2 the rear end of the electrode D is connected a coupling a with two separatetubes E, one of which may supply oxygen and the other hydrogen or acetylene to the hollow electrode for producing a combined electric arc and a oxy-hydrogen or oxy-q acetylene fiaine at the frontend of the elec- 2 cutting -ti trode' for melting the body or plate under treatment.

The torch shown in Fig. 3 is'substantially like that shown in Fig. 1 with the addition of a tubular cutting tip F mounted on the holder 0 and terminating at its front end close to the front end of theelectrode D and connected at its rear end with a tube f whereby a, hydrocarbon oil, acetylene or a gas composed j of oxygen and. hydrogen or .oxygen and acetylene may be supplied to the tip for producing a flame at the front end of the latter in addition to the oxygen flame issuing from this electrode and the electric are between the electrode and thebody operated upon. The torch shown in Fig. .3 also. contains an adjustable shield G, preferably of lue glass or mica mounted on the front parts of the electrode and the for protecting the eyes of the operator rom the effects of the intense heat which is developed by the torch. External air may also be admitted to the rear end of the electrode for admixture with the gases or other fuel entering the-same by means of openings h. in the couplinge The torch shown in Fig. 4 is like the one shownin Fig. '3 with. the exception that j the rear end of the tubular electrode 1) is connected by a coupling 6 with two tubes 11, i one of which supplies oxygen and the other hydrogen-or other gas, the ases supplied by these tubes being mixed y a jet '5? the coupling 6 before entering the electrode D 1 Instead of makingthe electrode of tubular form, as shown in Figs. 1-4, the same may be made solid, as shown at D in Fig. 5, and an adjustable or sliding tubular cut- 40 ting tip F maybe employed fordirecting' .a gas to the front end of the solid electrode. At its-rear .end the tip F is conected, by a coupling e with a tube 'k which supplies oxygen underhigh [pressure and'by. a cou filing c with a tube which supplies acetylente or hydrogen'at low"pressure, these gases beingimiixed at the j'unctlon of the couplings e e before-entering; the rear end of the tip F which latter is perforated, as shown at f 'in 5. The coupling efis provided inits conduit with a ,screenl preferably of 1 suitable porous material which prevents the flame of the \torch" from; flashing back. V Means are also'fihavidedgin the construction 86 shown in Fig. 5, whereby the electrodemay v be fed forward so that its frontend as it'is v consumed may be retained in the proper re- 1 lationto the front end of the tip F j This electrode adjusting mechanism, as shownin 00 this figure, comprises a carriage or slide M secured to the rear end of the electrode and movable lengthwise on the holder m, and an ad usting screw m working in a-threaded opening in' the' slide M and-journaled in 66 bearings OnithGLhOldOl'. Upon turning the screw the carriage is moved lengthwise and the front of the electrode is adjusted relatively to'the front end of the tip F as the adjustable tip carbon burns away. 1

In Fig. 6 is shown a torch in which two electrodes D, D are employed and in which these electrodes form the arc terminals of the electric generator B instead of utilizing the body under treatment as one of the terminals. These electrodes are arrangedat right angles to one another and one of them D is solid and the other D5 is of tubular form and connected at its rear end by a coupling-e with a tube 6" which supplies air or other gas. These electrodes are adjustable relatively to each other, so that as the front ends ofthe same are consumed or worn away by the are formed between the same these ends may be engaged for closing the circuit-preparatory to forming the are and the same may also be maintained at the proper distance apart. The means for this purpose shown in Fig. 6 comprise two carriages N, N which slide at right angles relatively to each other on a holder n and'which support the electrodes D, 1) respectively, two screws 11}, 11. working respectively in threaded openings in the carriages N, N and journaled at right angles to each, other in bearings on the holder. n, and intermeshing bevel wheels 01., n secured respectively to the screws n n. "The upper screwn is provided with a handle a which when turned causes both screws toshift the electrodes by drawing back on handle nand disengaging the bevel gears the upper car- 7 bon alone may be moved forward or back-' ward. w v The construction shown in Fig. 7 is sub stantially like that shown in Fig. 6 with the addition of a cutting tip F which mounted on the carriage of the tubular electrode and arranged with its front end close to the front end of the tubular "electrode'while-its rear end is connected with a supply tube f In'such an organization oxygen is supplied by the tube f to the cutting tip and'hydrogen or acetylene is supplied to the tubular electrode by the tube e.

The construction or torch shown in Fig. '8 is substantially like that shown in Fig. 6

with the exception that the electrodes D, D

are both solid and a gas delivery tip or nozale, 0 is mounted on the electrode holder 0 and arranged at its front end between the front ends of the electrodes while itslrear' end is connected with two'tubes'o, 'o'ione of which, 0, is designed to supply. oxygen and the other a hydrogen or acetylene.

fat their rear ends with tubes p, p one of naled on the holder and Working in threaded openings in the carriages, and adjusting,

shaft R journaled on the holder and connected by two pairs of bevel wheels 9' with the adjusting screws r, 1', and a gas delivery tip or nozzle 5 mounted on the'holder and arranged at its front end between the front ends of the electrodes while its rear end is connected with a tube 8 adapted to supply oxygen, hydrogen, acetylene, air, oil, vapor 5 or a. combinationof some of'these.

It is well known that the highest temperature-of the best, solid fuel torches is about 3,000 degrees F. while oxy-hydrogen blow pipes produce gas flames of 4,000 degrees F.

'zo-and the oxyacetylene torch produces a flame of about 6,300 degrees F. or a temperature about 200 degrees less than the electric arc. As the electric arc produces the. highest known temperature of from 2 6,000 to 7,000 degrees F., the present invention provides a means of taking advantage of the extreme high temperature of both the electric arc and the oxygen blow pipe flame with acetylene, hydrogen or other gases burning in combination within the same restricted area as the. electric arc.

This invention provides means for obtaining the. very highest temperature possible, the energy of the electric arc being 36 expended together with the oxygen and acetylene gases within the same restricted area, higher than that of either process when working alone.

It is possible with this invention of the electro-oxygen arc torch to operatewith an degree or quantity of heat by'working wit the gases alone, or with the are or the arc with any variable amount of current alone. The extraordinary cutting powers voflthe elect-ro-oxygen arc torch are apparent and its advantages are obvious when considering that by its use it is possible'to cut out the solidified iron or steel from blast furnaces and open hearth furnaces where the charges the oxygen blowtorch the high temhave been hardened or frozen by accident.-

used' to advantage By using the electricoxygen blow process in cases where preferred but alternating also doing the work. Almost as soon as the arc has been formed the oxygen cutting as may be used, the oxygen assin either girough the car-' bon electro e itse f as indicated, for instance in Fig. 1 or through a separate tip, as shown for instance in Fig. 3. The cost of acetylene and hydrogen gases is high and they are difiicult to obtain without special By means of the apparatus in many cases. electro oxy-arc torch oil, gas, gasolene, natural gas or ordinary illuminating gas may be employed to advantage inmany classes. of work without the expense of 'the former gases pure oxygen and in some cases air being supplied to support combustion. lVith the elcctro-oxy-arc process herein described it is possible to concentrate within a very small area temperatures of 6,500 degrees 1 or over, and to reduce very quickly a small, portion of any'metal to a molten state. For use in welding with this electropipe or torch, as with the oxyhydrogen or oxy-acet-ylene gas process the union is made by the two metals simply flowing together there being no necessity for the useof fluxes or for the application of pressure. In this electro-oxy-arc process it is possible to confine the heating and flowing of the molecules of metal within a small area generating at the same time suflicient heat to make compression unnecessary, thus greatly simplifying the process of welding metal.

lVhile the electric are alone has heretofore been utilized for electric welding and cutting, it has not been entirely controllable as to temperature by varying the amount of current at the arc nor has it been at all times possible properly to direct the heat to the points desired. In the same manner the oxyacetylene and oxy-hydrogen gas blow pipe processes have heretofore not-attained the possible success of the electro oxy-arc greater intensity of heat might be desired."

Aluminum, aluminum alloy with flux, iron composite or other hollow or solid metal electrodes may be used in place of carbon in certain cases where such metals may 'act as solder in filling up holes in castings, in brazing or welding, the electrode being fed forward. as it disintegrates.

n is well known that the electric arc as a refining action on iron and steel and other metals' and this may be taken advantage of in the electro-oxy-arc process using composite electrodes burning-out carbon with" an oxidizing flame or' adding carbon or other. elements with a reducing flame, changing the quality of the iron, steel, or other metal in local spots where those places should have a different grade of metal, as to hardness, softness, for instance, by introducing-titanium, vanaetc., this being effected,

dium or other rare metal for changing the character, toughness or-quality of those carbon both make up the endothermic gas,

acetylene, which is used with oxygen in the blow pipe, these elements are dissociated .at the flame, the carbon burning, and it is held that hydrogen does not combine at the high temperature produced with the oxygen but forms'a protecting cone at the nozzle of'the blow pipe, the maximum temperature being produced where the carbon is burning, thus producing the intense heat of the well known oxy-acetylene flame. The electroarc-oxygen torch used in the present invention takes advantage of this fact that the highest known temperatures are obtained by the combustion of carbon and oxygen, the carbon of the electrode and of gas passing through it and in the metal being cut or welded, combined with the electric heat energy in'the arcproducing the most intense heat ever before known within thesame limited, area. As the hydrogen. in the oxy-acetylene flame is not utilized, but only the carbon, it is held that the carbon necessary may be introduced by other gases con taining carbon of less cost and by the carbon 4o energy belngconsumed in a restricted area,

electrode itself through the carbon vapor in the-arc. p

By combining in the electro-oxy-arc process the use of the electric arc and the oxyacetylene flame, it is believed a more intense heat may be obtained, a greater amount of and better controlled; than with either the electric are or the gas process alone. By controlling the number of amperes in the electric arc and by altering the quantity,

- pressure and proportion of oxygen and acetylene in the welding and cutting flame 11; .1s held that a remarkable variation of quality, quantity and intensity-of-flame-may beprovided, the flame being of an oxidizingv the mixture.

It is stated that one pou nd of acetylene produces about 20,000 E. T. U. when biirningwith oxygen and one pound of steel pro-- duces about 3,000 B. T. U. when burning with oxygen wh le in theelectric arc the a to ' small area isundoubtedly far greater than] jjer "B. T. U. produced 10f watts'used'.

withan electric arc and oxy-acetylene'gasl varies with the number In cutting or welding steel.

combined, the B. T. U. produced in the same ed terminal of an against flashbacks means as the use of finely divided or. porous material'or gauge wire through. which the propagation of flame in the ease of mg the on the principle of the injector, the oxygen under higher pressure U I Q drawing a'= certain amount of -the. latter with sumptionofoxygen is, more nearly dalblg that of acetylene in the low pressure than in thehi 'hfpressureblow pipe inwhich ciencyand economy nearly the same, the e of the highpressure arrang ment'thusnoted being due to the two, gases striking at ;.right angles in .mixing ,and producing, a more homogeneous combination{. TheTga'rygen is used under apress'urevargin up to 200 pounds per square inch, the i er pressures being used in cutting service w ile the acety: 'lene gas is' employed under .low pressure of two pounds orle'ss. If desiredithe screenl shown in Fig. 5 may be associated with each "of the constructions shown in other figures, for instance, posed between each of the companion hollow carbon Fig. 9.

I claim as my invent1on:

-1. The herein described process matter consisting in simultaneously subject: ing the same to the heat of an electric; arc and a flame gas.

ipesp, p and its D D shown in matterfconsisting in. formingan electric are between the electrode and the matter to be fused and directing a-flame into gether with a cutting jet supporting gas; I 3. An-apparatus for fusin matter comprising an electrode adapte to form .one electric;;;arc .deliverin" fgether with eans ofzcutting 's. Yf'r. An appa atiisfor fusing matter comprising a tubular electrode adapted to conto'con not a separate jet .eonduct /a'cut ting. gas 'the'ele o e. 1-

5.5; n. apparatus prising a pair of electrodes constituting the 'minals of an electric circuit and adapted {to form an arc-between them and one of said were eitheremployed alone. The electro-g ;oxy-arc process also includes the .combin gd electrodes being of tubular form and adapttheproportion of oxygen and acetylene is together with a jet of cutting 2 The herein described processof fusing said arc to of a combustion duct; .a combustible element to the front endthereof and aseparate conduit adapted to to the front end of H 125 for fusing matter com moderate pressure or low pressure, the mixture of these gases before combustion at. the tip being so arrangedas to provide.

ases-must pass, thereby effectually-preyent '75! flashback. In the ordinary-.acetylengfiblow.sQ pipe the gases are mixed under low' pressure thairgthe acetylene,

.it through the tipv Where itburns. The con-' the same may be inter of fusing 10" and by other slmple 115 and means for a combustible as to said arc to--,

ed to conduct a combustible elementto the front ends of said electrodes together with means to conduct a cutting, jet of a com bustion supporting gas.

6. An apparatus for fusing" matter comprising a pair of electrodes constituting the terminals of an electric circuit and adapted to form an are between them and both of said electrodes being of tubular form and adapted to conduct combustible elements to the front ends thereof.

7. An apparatus for fusing matter comprising a pair of electrodes constituting the terminals of an electric circuit and adapted i to form an are between them and both of said electrodes being of tubular form and adapted to conduct combustible elements to 

